Banjo



Ot. 2, .1928.A 1,686,416

Herman Oct 2, 192s.

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Patented Oct.. 12, 1928. y

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, This invention relatesltobanjos, and arr object of the rinvention ifs te provide a banjo structurey which willi' permit full natural tonesfotf the banjo to'be cseatedfwhiie playing the' ban-jo with theyuse ot a'resonator or aml pril-ier of types suehjas have come. intey universaluse. K y y j 'ffllteis' a, weil; known` fact; thatwhen vusing ampptiera"'orpresoimtors with bancs, the

lo 4vmuere is increased in miams er amplified hat the truetones ofthe banjo-are disterted,ow

ingI` tti-fthe, inpeilingk of' the outi'etv fbi' the It is an object of the present invention to provide a banjo structure in which outlets for the music are provided in ksuch manner as to permit the.y full andftrue tones of the banjo to be provided with the use of an amplifier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of amplifier or resonator for use in connection with a particular form of banjo head.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detail description, and in the 26 accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l-is a plan'of a banjo yconstructed in accordance with thisinvention with part of the drum head broken away.

` Figure 2-is a cross sectionthrough 'the- 80 banj j Figure S-is a fragmentary top plan `of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4-is a fragmenta cross section through the modified `form o ythe invention.`

Referring more j articularly tothe drawings in Figs. 1 an 2, 1 indicates the banjo rim which is made or constructed inthe usual manner of the construction of the wood rims of banjo's, and it has a sound ring 2 attached f to its upper edge. The ring 2 comprises the' vertical vsection 3 and the horizontal section 4 which 'latter section is attached in any suitable manner to the upper edge of the rim 1 and overhangs the cut-away upper corner 5 of the rimk 1.A The portion of the horizontal part4 of the ring 2 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openlngs 6 which open out into the cut-away portion 5,

' andthe vertical part 3 of the ring 2 is provided with a pluralityT of circumferentially spaced openings 7. v e head carryingring 8 which is of approved construction, is mounted upon the ring 2 and has an annular shoulder 9 on its inner surface which rests upon the perimeter of the horizontal portion 4. The vbanjo head 10 which is of the usual type of skin is carried by the hoop structure 11j which is also of the approved type used inl the-construction. of. banjosya'nd the hoop engages over the outer surface of the 'ri-ngt,

ascl'earlyshown in Figurev 2oi the' drawings. The ringy S-istightly clamped by means of the clamping bolts 12- which entendfthrough the laterallyy projecting resonator 1 ring* I3. The

ringlfreplace's the usual type of brackets which are carried byf the banjo rim 11 and ift has itsupper surface conca'velly4 curved trans versely, asshown at `14, to act asthe-` top-ost a resonator or amplifier and toi deflcctvthe music which issues through the openings 6 and 7 .l By providing suitable openings 15 in the resonator ring 13, the clamping bolts 12 may extend therethrough, and the c-lamping nuts 16 which are threaded on they clamping bolts engage against the under flat surface 177 to tightly clam the head in position'.

In Figures 3 and 4 o the drawings, a modified form of the invention is shown in which rthe wood rim 20 is provided with an annular groove 21 near its upper end and the skirt 22 of the head carrying ring 23 overhangs this annular groove. A plurality of openings 24 yare cut or drilled at circumferentially spaced points through the rim 20 and open out into the groove 21 to permit the escape of `the sounds from beneath the skin head of the banjo.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that in the preferred form of the invention, the rim l and ring 2 combine to forma rim structure which serves a similar and substantially the same function as the grooved rim structure illustrated and described in the modified form of the invention, and that the various openings which open into the cut-out portion 5 of the rim lor the openings which open into the annular' groove or cut-out portion 21 in the rim 20, serve to conduct the sound or music into these grooves and outwardly of theouter perimeter of the rim. l

In the preferred form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, the vertical portion 3 of the ring 2 and the head carrying ring 8 combine to provide an annular sound chamber beneath the head 10 and from which the 'los When the banjo is closed by means of an ampliler or resonator (not shown) of approved types, one of which is shown in my companion application, filed January 2, 1925, Serial No. 231, that the true tones of the banjo will be permitted to issue from these outlets, as Well as through the openings 15 in the ring 13 through which the sounds are directed from the ampliiier indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

that I claim is 1. In a banjo, a supporting head rim, a skin head and clamping ring` therefor, a sound outlet ring operatively carried by the supporting head rim and being located beneath the skin head, a skin head carrying ring with means for supporting it on the sound outlet ring, the skin head being clamped between the skin head carrying ring and the clamping ring, said sound outlet ring having a plurality of outlet openings, and means for retaining and holding said parts on said rim.

2. In a banjo, the combination with an annular rim structure, of a skin head and outer skin supporting ring and clamping ring therefor, a sound outlet ring carried by the annular rim structure and positioned concentrically Within said outer skin supporting ring beneath the said skin head in spaced relation thereto,isaid sound outlet ring comprising right angularly disposed flange portions, each provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced sound outlet openings, the outlet' openings in one of the iange portions being positioned outwardly of the adja cent outer edge ot' said annular rim, the flange portion of said outlet ring being spaced from the inner surface of the skin supporting ring, said outlet ring havingian apertured flange portion and being positioned intermediate said other flange portion and outer ring substantially as described. v j y In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HERMAN F. MIETZ. 

